RJD confirms seat-sharing in alliance, yet clarity pending on some seats

After months of uncertainty, Bihar’s Opposition bloc, the Mahagathbandhan, appears to have resolved its seat-sharing dispute. The development comes a day after the nomination deadline for the first phase ended, signaling that the alliance has finally moved past the deadlock.

RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari confirmed on Saturday that the alliance had finalised its seat-sharing arrangement. “The Mahagathbandhan has finalised its seat sharing; confusion over a few seats will be solved and announced soon,” Tiwari said.

The RJD-led alliance includes the Congress, CPI (ML-L), CPI (M), CPI, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). The group has been struggling for weeks to divide constituencies, especially those where multiple partners claimed the same seats.

While the announcement ends speculation about the alliance’s collapse, a few constituencies remain under discussion. Sources said leaders would soon make a joint statement to present a united front before the second phase of nominations closes on Monday.

Meanwhile, the NDA has mocked the Opposition over its prolonged indecision. LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said the ruling coalition had already finalised all 243 candidates. “The NDA respected all five allies and completed the negotiations. Our list is clear, our campaign is running, while the Mahagathbandhan partners are still cancelling each other’s claims,” Paswan said.

His remarks highlight the contrast between the two alliances. The NDA, led by the BJP and JD(U), began its campaign early, holding rallies and outreach programs across key constituencies. In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan’s internal rift delayed candidate announcements and campaign plans.

Despite criticism, Tiwari insisted the Opposition bloc remains strong. “The Mahagathbandhan is the people’s alliance. All our candidates are seeking votes under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership. The alliance is intact,” he said.

The first phase of polling covers 121 of Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats. Parties in the Mahagathbandhan filed nominations for these constituencies even as seat-sharing talks continued in the background. The remaining 122 seats will go to polls in the second phase, for which the nomination window closes Monday.

Congress and Left parties had released partial candidate lists earlier this week, a move seen as pressure on the RJD to conclude talks. Insiders said disagreements mainly involved constituencies in North and Central Bihar, where both the RJD and Left have strong bases.

As the Opposition camps worked to project unity, another political shift emerged. The Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), led by Pashupati Kumar Paras, announced it would contest alone. Paras, uncle of Chirag Paswan, said his decision followed failed talks with the Mahagathbandhan. “We tried for an understanding, but justice was not done to our party,” he said.

Paras, who split from the NDA earlier this year, had accused the ruling alliance of sidelining his faction. His exit adds a fresh twist to Bihar’s complex political landscape, where smaller parties continue to play decisive roles.

With the second phase nominations closing soon, both alliances are racing to finalise candidates and sharpen campaign messaging. The next few days will reveal whether the Mahagathbandhan can translate its fragile unity into electoral strength or cede early momentum to the NDA.